What are Ocean Currents?

An Ocean current is a horizontal movement of

water, dependent on its placement within the
world.

A current is controlled by winds and radiation of

the sun.
 What is the Purpose of currents
i Control earths climate patterns.
i Mix ocean surface and depth.
i Supply nutrients to marine and other organic
life.
i Aids in the dispersal of marine life forms
 Row do Currents work?
There are two ways that currents can be
generated:

i Wind

i Thermohaline Circulation
 Wind Current
i More common for horizontal, surface
currents.
i Driving force provided by the Ekmens Spiral:
Current flows by a 45 degree angle with
respect to the wind and the deeper the depth,
greater the angle.
 Thermohaline Circulation
i Also can be referred to as vertical circulation

i Mixes deep masses of water which starts on

surface then sinks due to heat. This makes the
surface water more dense and thus mixes the
differing levels of ocean water
 ulf Stream
i Fastest currents in the world ocean (flows upto 9 km/h)
i Originates from the warm North Equatorial Current
and flows northward along North America
i radually merges with the Sargasso Sea
Rowever, by the time the ulf Stream reaches
Newfoundland it has loss volume and cannot move as fast
i Flows in a easterly direction near the Southeast of
Newfoundland across the North Atlantic
At this point it breaks into many branches to form other
currents
 ïabrador Current
i A cold current
i Flows south along the coast of ïabrador in the
northeastern Atlantic Ocean
i Originates in the Arctic Ocean and flows
southward into the Atlantic
i In the rand Bank (Southeast of
Newfoundland), the ïabrador Current merges
with the North Atlantic Current (a branch of the
ulf Stream)
This merging of cold and water produces dense fog
that can be dangerous to navigate in.
 _uroshio Current
i A warm current of the Pacific Ocean
i Branches off from the North Equatorial Current
i Splits into two currents, one that flows along the
west coast of Japan while the other current (the
main current) turns northeast and warms the
southern part of Japan
i It then turns east and merges with a cold current
to form the North Pacific Current
i The second strongest current (after the ulf
Stream)
( An illustration of the _uroshio Current merging
with the Oyashio Current (the cold current)
The World Currents
 eferences
i Thurman, R. V. 1996. Essentials of
Oceanography. Prentice Rall. New Jersey.
i Rowstuffworks.com.
i _ollmeyer, . 1976. ïabrador current
predictive mode. _ollmeyer inc.
i oss, D. A. 1198. Introduction to
Oceanography. Prenitice Rall, New Jersey.